After a generation running colleges in Iowa, Caitlin Clark starts her career this week in Indiana, where college graduates earn a median annual income of $100, according to the U.S. Census American Consumer Survey $52,267.
But Clark is no ordinary young professional.
When she entered the WNBA, she was one of the biggest stars in the country, with high profile and commercial appeal. She’s sold out arenas, signed a $28 million Nike endorsement deal and sent TV ratings soaring — while her career potential has sparked widespread debate about the economics of women’s basketball.
In her first season with the Indiana Fever, she will earn just above the Indiana median salary of $76,535. Even taking into account the WNBA’s five-month season, that’s minuscule compared to many other athletes, especially those who have been hyped to have the potential to change the trajectory of their sports.
Victor Wembanyama, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA draft, will make $12.16 million in his first season, roughly 80 times what Clark makes per game. Caleb Williams, the NFL’s No. 1 overall pick, will earn about $1 million in salary through 2024, and with a signing bonus, his net income will be more than $7 million. Even Paul Skenes, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, is far from a household name and signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates worth approximately $9.8 million, including $9.2 million in bonuses.
The WNBA’s revenue lags far behind other major North American leagues. But Clark’s salary also lags behind professionals in niche sports such as bowling, surfing and bull riding.
The base salary for Professional Pickleball Association players is $75,000. The top five players on this year’s PPA Tour will earn an average of $1.5 million in prize money and bonuses. Ten Pro Bowlers made more than Clark’s rookie salary last year. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association has 25 bull riders who earn more than $76,535 in salary, with the No. 1 rider earning nearly the value of Clark’s entire four-year contract ($338,056) in 2023 from National Rodeo Finals earnings.
Clark’s relatively low salary has become a national topic, with even the president weighing in on it.
Women in sports continue to push new boundaries and inspire us all.
But now we’re finding that even if you’re the best, women don’t get their due.
It’s time we give our daughters the same opportunities as our sons and ensure women get their due.
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 16, 2024
One major difference between the WNBA and its counterparts in many other sports is that WNBA players receive a smaller share of the league’s revenue. Although NBA players have negotiated a 50-50 split of basketball-related income, WNBA salaries will account for 9.3% of league revenue in 2023. Kelsey Plum has said many times that WNBA players want a bigger piece of the pie, not necessarily a raw salary increase. “We don’t ask for the same pay as men,” she said. “We demand remuneration in the same proportion as shared revenue.”
Commissioner Kathy Engelbert pushed back against claims about Clark’s pay. Speaking at the CNBC Changemakers Summit, Engelbert explained that Clark’s WNBA salary could be as high as $500,000 by 2024. Advance.
Nothing is guaranteed except her base salary, which is similar to what would be available in a league much newer than the WNBA, which is currently in its 28th season. Asjia O’Neal, the No. 1 pick in the Professional Volleyball League, earned $60,000 in her first season in the Professional Volleyball League. The PWHL pays players an average of $55,000 in their first year. Newer leagues say their sponsorships and media rights are important revenue drivers. But the WNBA has also attracted major sponsors, including Google, Nike and CarMax, and has broadcast rights deals with ESPN and Amazon.
Considering the WNBA’s stature in major sports, it’s perhaps unreasonable to compare Clark to Wembunyama, Williams or Skenes. But she also makes less than NBA two-way contract players ($559,872), some NFL practice players (minimum $12,000 per week) and NHL minimum wage earners ($750,000).
1. The 18-year-old future Olympian won a multi-day event this spring for $80,000 and has earned a total of $219,000 in five events in 2024.
2. The Finnish pro is ranked 15th and has never finished third in 2023 with $77,355 in prize money from 14 events.
3. According to Sports Business Journal, the Charlotte Hornets entertainer makes $100,000 a year, which isn’t even the highest salary among NBA mascots.
4. The Miami Marlins signed the 17-year-old Class of 2024 catcher to a one-year, $75,000 contract. He was assigned to the minor league Dominican Summer League Marlins.
5. The MLS midfielder will earn a base salary of $75,325 in 2023, ranking him 789th among the highest-paid players.
6. The Professional Pickleball League’s starting bonus and bonus for signed players is approximately $75,000.
7. The golfer played 11 events in 2023, earning $78,414 (best finish tied for 23rd).
8. Despite not placing in most events, the 20-year-old ranked 26th in 2023, earning $76,439.
9. The chess grandmaster won a Swiss chess tournament in November 2023, earning nearly $80,000.
10. The Fortress Heroes player ranks 481st in the world in terms of total earnings, earning $83,475 last year.
The current development of the WNBA is often compared to the arrival of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird in the NBA, which set off a decades-long surge in popularity for the league. When Bird was drafted in 1978, he signed a five-year contract with an average annual salary of $650,000 (a figure that does not account for inflation). Johnson’s average salary over the first five seasons was $460,000.
WNBA supporters hope Clark can help encourage similar competition, where rookies such as the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese and numerous other players have made history in the NCAA tournament and other tournaments.
During a donation drive in April, USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb cited Clark’s salary as a reason to advocate for more funding for women’s college basketball. Although Clark and USC star JuJu Watkins have lucrative endorsement deals, Gottlieb said “neither of them is getting paid what they deserve when it comes to basketball.”
Clark and other WNBA players hope change is coming. The league has historically struggled to maintain its financial footing through investments. Even traditional teams like the New York Liberty and Los Angeles Sparks have nearly gone out of business in the past decade. The team lacks adequate training facilities and players often travel overseas to supplement their income.
Now that teams are generally becoming more competitive, new ownership groups in Atlanta, Las Vegas, New York and Phoenix are committed to making life in the WNBA more attractive in terms of finances and benefits. The WNBA seeks more corporate partnerships and media deals to increase the value of the league. Chiney Ogwumike, a former vice president of the players’ association, said the league’s revenue is expected to reach $200 million by 2023, double its 2019 total revenue. The WNBA recently announced it will spend $25 million each of the next two seasons on charter flights. It also hopes a new media rights deal – the current one, which nets about $50 million from broadcast partners and expires in 2025 – will bring another influx of cash.
Consider the NWSL’s new broadcast deal, which pays $60 million per year compared to the previous $1.5 million, helping to increase the salary cap by 40% from 2023 to 2024. Pay up to six figures, worth seven figures over their lifetime. No WNBA player has ever signed a million-dollar contract.
That million-dollar threshold could drop before Clark signs his next deal. However, without significant changes to the WNBA’s financial situation, her salary may never reflect what other stars in similar positions earn.
(Visual credit: Drew Jordan/ sports; Illustration: John Bradford / Competitor; Photos of Caitlin Simmers, Caitlin Clark, Hugo the Hornet, Charlotte Thomas, Sofiane Djeffal and Vidit Gujrathi: Aaron Hughes/Getty Images, Gregory Shamus/Getty Images, Matthew Grimes Jr./Getty Images/Atlanta Braves, Meg Oliphant/Getty Images, Sofiane Djeffal/Getty Images, Vidit Gujrathi/Hindustan Times)
